Room at Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center Named in Honor of Reverend James G. Todd (STH’61)
The following is an excerpt from the Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center article “Finding Meaning: Mary Todd and the Creation of Todd Hall” by Michael Reed, published on October 24, 2023.
With a wry smile, I point out to Mary that her husband Jim would have loved the Todd Hall project. Our current Niantic Hall is certainly in need of some extra love and care. Located on the lower level below the dining room, the current room hasn’t had an upgrade in a while—perhaps not since a youth group from Niantic Community Church helped clear the space, hence the name. A renovation project of this room, originally the “rec room” built in 1954, would have been right up Jim’s alley.
What’s more, our intention is to make it into a “people space”—one of Jim’s favorite turns of phrase—designed to reflect Jim’s vibrant, multifaceted ministry. We are reimagining the current room as an open-concept venue with high-quality wood flooring, enhanced natural and overhead lighting, and a clean and inviting atmosphere. We want Todd Hall to be purpose-built for active learning: whether as pop-up studio space for our growing Artist Collaborative or a visiting yoga group; or as a eco-spirituality classroom for our burgeoning Earth Center—a place that can handle a little extra hands-on mess without a fuss—all with easy access to the outdoors.